System feature starting method and controlling method for audio/visual system

Abstract: A remote control method for an audio/visual system which can perform protection during execution of a system feature and is convenient in use is disclosed. The remote control method is applied to an audio/visual system wherein each of a plurality of audio/visual equipments includes a microcomputer for controlling operation of the audio/visual equipment. The microcomputers of the audio/visual equipments are connected to each other by way of a bus system. One of the audio/visual equipments is set as an audio/visual center equipment. The audio/visual center equipment controls the entire system in a concentrated manner. The audio/visual center equipment receives remote control signals in a concentrated manner without causing remote controller receiver sections of the audio/visual equipments other than the audio/visual center equipment to function and transfers necessary commands to the audio/visual equipments. Also novel system feature starting method and controlling method for an audio/visual system of the type mentioned are disclosed.

Description: This invention relates to a system feature starting method and controlling method for an audio/visual system wherein a plurality of audio/visual equipments are connected to each other by way of a domestic digital bus system such as, for example, a D2B bus system. The system feature herein denotes a feature whose operation is performed by cooperation of a plurality of audio/visual equipments. Audio/visual systems wherein a plurality of audio/visual equipments are connected to each other by way of a bus system to make up a set are conventionally known. In an audio/visual system of the type mentioned, a center equipment is set in advance, and one concentrated remote control signal transmission means called system remote controller is provided for a system feature which is executed by cooperation of a plurality of equipments. A command from the system remote control signal transmission means is received by the center equipment and the system feature is started, and then, execution of the system feature is controlled by the center equipment. Then, the command or a corresponding command is transferred to the audio/visual equipments. An exemplary one of conventional audio/visual systems of the type mentioned is shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, the audio/visual system includes a television receiver 1, a video tape recorder 2, an audio/visual amplifier 3, and a multi-disk player 4 which can reproduce optical disks such as a CD (compact disk) and an LD (laser disk). In the audio/visual system shown, the television receiver 1 serves as a center equipment. For transmission and reception of an audio signal and a video signal, the television receiver 1 and the audio/visual amplifier 3 are connected to each other by way of an audio/visual signal line L1, and the audio/visual amplifier 3 and the video tape recorder 2, and the audio/visual amplifier 3 and the multi-disk player 4 are connected to each other by way of audio/visual signal lines L2 and L3, respectively. Further, each of the audio/visual equipments 1 to 4 includes a control circuit in which a single or a plurality of microcomputers for controlling operation of the equipment are employed, and the control circuits of the audio/visual equipments 1 to 4 are connected in cascade connection by way of bidirectional buses B1, B2 and B3 for transmission of a control signal into a single system. The audio/visual equipments 1 to 4 include remote controller receiver sections R1, r2, r3 and r4, respectively, and a remote control signal (command) received by each of them is inputted to and processed by a control circuit of the audio/visual equipment. In the audio/visual system shown, the remote controller receiver section R1 of the television receiver 1 is used only for reception of a signal from system remote control signal transmission means CM1. A command to execute a system feature which is performed by cooperation of a plurality of audio/visual equipments is transmitted from the system remote control signal transmission means CM1 to the remote controller receiver section R1 of the television receiver 1. The television receiver 1 converts the command received from the system remote control signal transmission means CM1 into a bus command (a command to be transmitted to each audio/visual equipment by way of the bus system) and sends out the bus command to the audio/visual equipments by way of the buses B1 to B3. Each audio/visual equipment transfers the bus command to a next audio/visual equipment and determines whether or not the address included in the bus command is an address representative of the audio/visual equipment itself, and then, if the address is the address of itself, the bus command is fetched and decoded so that an operation corresponding to the command is executed. In the audio/visual system of FIG. 4, commands from the different system remote control signal transmission means are all received by the television receiver and a bus command is delivered to the equipments, but the television receiver includes the receiver section only and does not function as a system controller which controls the entire system. It is to be noted that the system remote control signal transmission means CM1 also generates a command of a feature whose operation completes itself only with the television receiver 1. Further, in the audio/visual system of FIG. 4, remote control signal transmission means cm2, cm3 and cm4 for exclusive use are prepared for the individual audio/visual equipments 2 to 4, respectively, and each of the equipments 2 to 4 itself can uniquely receive also a command from the remote control signal transmission means cm2, cm3 or cm4 for exclusive use therewith. FIG. 5 shows another exemplary one of conventional audio/visual systems of the type described above. The audio/visual system is constructed such that other audio/visual equipments than a center equipment are connected in a star connection around the center equipment so that one directional communication is performed from the center equipment. In particular, in the audio/visual system, a system controller 5 is provided as a center equipment, and a video tape recorder 6, an audio/visual amplifier 7, an multi-disk player 8 and a television receiver 9 are connected to the system controller 5 by way of one-directional communication control lines W1, W2, W3 and W4 so that they are controlled one-directionally by the system controller 5. The audio/visual amplifier 7 and the television receiver 9 are connected to each other by way of an audio/visual signal line L4, and the audio/visual amplifier 7 and the video tape recorder 6, and the audio/visual amplifier 7 and the multi-disk player 8 are connected to each other by way of audio/visual signal lines L5 and L6, respectively. The audio/visual system further includes an extended second video tape recorder 10, which is not compatible with the one-directional communication of the audio/visual system. System remote control signal transmission means CM2 is provided for a receiver section R5 of the system controller 5, and a command of a system feature is transmitted from the system remote controller CM2 to the system controller 5. When the command of the system feature is received, the system controller 5 transmits a control command to the equipments 6 to 9 by way of control lines W1 to W4 to realize the object system feature. Also in the present audio/visual system, the audio/visual equipments 6 to 9 and the extended equipment 10 can receive, at respective receiver sections r6 to r9 and r10 thereof, commands from remote control signal transmission means cm6 to cm9 and cm10 for exclusive use therewith, respectively, and execute features they individually have. In the audio/visual system, audio/visual equipments to be extended newly are limited by the number of plugs or jacks of the system controller 5 serving as a center equipment or the number of selection keys for categories (for example, a video tape recorder or an multi-disk player) of system remote control signal transmission means. When an audio/visual equipment to be extended is a product of a different company, any of a very limited number of commands of the system remote control signal transmission means is converted in the inside of the system controller 5 serving as a center equipment and transmitted to the audio/visual equipment or else a code of the different company is transmitted directly to the equipment from the system remote control signal transmission means. With the conventional audio/visual systems described above, however, no protection means for a system feature during execution of the system feature is involved, and even if the system feature has been started with the center equipment set as a master and is being executed, if a command from the remote control signal transmission means for exclusive use with any of the equipments is received, then the audio/visual system operates unconditionally in response to the command. For example, when the multi-disk player 4 or 8 receives a stop command from the remote control signal transmission means cm4 or cm8 for exclusive use therewith while dubbing wherein a reproduction signal of the multi-disk player 4 or 8 is recorded is proceeding, the multi-disk player 4 or 8 enters into a stop mode although it is performing dubbing. Therefore, there is the possibility that the video tape recorder 2 or 6 may maintain its recording condition without knowing that the multi-disk player 4 or 8 has stopped. Also with the conventional systems, when each of the audio/visual equipments recognizes a system feature being executed thereby or when any of the audio/visual equipments delivers an inquiry for a feature being executed to the center equipment, the feature being executed can be recognized and protection for the feature can be performed. In this instance, however, there is a problem in that a large memory capacity is required for each audio/visual equipment or confusion of communication on the bus is resulted. Further, where a warning indication such as, for example, "during execution of dubbing at present" is provided for protection, such indication must be performed on each of the audio/visual equipments. Consequently, each of the equipments is complicated in construction. Further, the conventional audio/visual system of FIG. 5 has a drawback in that it is difficult for a user to recognize or operate the system in that the controlling method for an extended equipment is unclear or the matching method is varied depending upon the manufacturer. Further, in the conventional audio/visual systems, when infrared rays are used for a remote controller signal, the remote control signal transmission means for exclusive use with each of the equipments must necessarily emit a remote controller signal toward the corresponding audio/visual equipment, but since a plurality of remote control signal transmission means are present and besides the positions of the remote controller receiver sections are generally different among the individual audio/visual equipments, there is the possibility that confusion by which remote control signal transmission means and to which direction a remote controller signal should be emitted may be resulted. On the other hand, in the conventional audio/visual systems, when a command is to be transmitted from the system remote control signal transmission means to the center equipment to perform a system feature, the user will perform also an operation to select audio/visual equipments, with which the system feature is to be executed, by way of a selection key (switch) of the system remote control signal transmission means. A further audio/visual system is also known wherein a system feature is started in response to a trigger signal other than an operation of such system remote control signal transmission means. In particular, the audio/visual system is constructed such that a variation when a power source switch of each equipment is operated to make the power source available is detected by the audio/visual center equipment and, in response to such detection, the audio/visual center equipment automatically performs switching of a source. Where the audio/visual equipment is, for example, a CD player, when the power source to it is turned on, the audio/visual center equipment detects the variation and connects the reproduction output of the CD player to a loudspeaker by way of an audio/visual amplifier to effect switching of the source. In the conventional audio/visual system described above, an equipment with which a system feature is to be performed must be selected by means of the system remote control signal transmission means. Meanwhile, in recent audio/visual systems, a plurality of video tape recorders, disk reproduction apparatus and so forth can be connected. Therefore, each of system remote controllers for use of them includes a plurality of selection keys provided for the category such as a video tape recorder, and one of audio/visual equipments must be specified by selection using a plurality of selection keys provided for each category. Consequently, operations are complicated, and the user is puzzled frequently in operation. Further, with the conventional audio/visual system, while only one equipment to serve as a source can be determined from within a plurality of equipments, such a complicated operation as to alternately switch two sources is not available. Further, the conventional audio/visual system is further disadvantageous in that the range of application of a system feature is so small that, even if it is tried to add a new system feature to an audio/visual equipment to be incorporated newly into the audio/visual system, since the audio/visual center equipment controls all system features, such addition cannot be realized unless the audio/visual system recognizes the new system feature in advance. EP-A-0,371,749 discloses an audio/visual system in which all units are peers and some preprogrammed functions of one unit, e.g. the TV, can be controlled by another unit, e.g. the VCR. EP-A-0,505,006 discloses an audio/visual system in which one sub-device can make status enquiries of another sub-device included in the system. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system feature starting method for an audio/visual system which includes a plurality of audio/visual devices each including a control circuit for controlling operation of that audio/visual device, the control circuits of said audio/visual devices being connected to each other by way of a bus system, said audio/visual system further including an audio/visual center device for controlling said audio/visual system in a concentrated manner, at least one of said audio/visual devices other than said center device, including manually operable inputting means for a system feature by which the audio visual device operates in cooperation with any one of the other audio/visual devices, the method comprising starting the system feature when said manually operable inputting means is manually operated. With the system feature starting method, a system feature is started by direct inputting to any other one of the audio/visual equipments than the audio/visual center equipment such as by operation of a system feature key of an operation panel of the audio/visual equipment. Since a trigger for starting the system feature is provided directly to the equipment which takes part in the system feature, this means that the audio/visual equipment has been selected already. Consequently, otherwise possible confusion in selective operation of an audio/visual equipment is reduced. According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system feature controlling method which comprises the system feature starting method described above and the further step of: controlling the system feature by the one audio/visual equipment itself. With the system feature controlling method, since not the audio/visual center equipment but each audio/visual equipment controls a system feature of the audio/visual equipment, it is easy to add a new feature to the audio/visual system, and the expansibility of the system is enhanced. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements are denoted by like reference characters. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of audio/visual system to which a system feature starting method and controlling method according to the present invention are applied; FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic views illustrating execution of a system feature on the audio/visual system shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional audio/visual system; and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another conventional audio/visual system. In the following, a system feature starting method and controlling method for an audio/visual system according to the present invention will be described. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an audio/visual system to which the system feature starting method and controlling method of the present invention are applied. The audio/visual system shown includes a television receiver 11, a video tape recorder 12, an audio/visual selector or amplifier 13, a multi-disk player 14 which can reproduce a plurality of types of optical disks such as a compact disk (CD) and an laser disk (LD), and a system remote control signal transmitter CM3. The audio/visual selector 13 performs selective switching of an audio/visual signal and serves as an audio/visual center equipment. The audio/visual selector 13 includes a reception section r13 for receiving a remote controller command from the system remote control signal transmitter CM3. For transmission and reception of an audio signal and a video signal, an audio/visual signal processing circuit 11S of the television receiver 11 and a selector circuit 13S of the audio/visual selector 13 are connected to each other by way of an audio/visual signal line L8. Further, the selector circuit 13S of the audio/visual selector 13 and an audio/visual signal processing circuit 12S of the video tape recorder 12, and the selector circuit 13S of the audio/visual selector 13 and an audio/visual signal processing circuit 14S of the multi-disk player 14 are connected to each other by way of audio/visual signal lines L9 and L10, respectively. The audio/visual equipments 11, 12, 13 and 14 include control circuits 11CT, 12CT, 13CT and 14CT each employing one or a plurality of microcomputers for controlling operation of the equipment. The control circuits 11CT to 14CT of the audio/visual equipments 11 to 14 are connected to each other in cascade connection by way of bidirectional buses B4, B5 and B6 for transmission of a control signal so as to make up a system. Each of the audio/visual equipments 11 to 14 has an address on the system allocated thereto so that it can be identified on the system. The control circuits 11CT, 12CT and 14CT of the audio/visual equipments 11, 12 and 14 control the audio/visual signal processing circuits 11S, 12S and 14S, respectively. Mechanism decks 12M and 14M are provided on the video tape recorder 12 and the multi-disk player 14, respectively, and the control circuits 12CT and 14CT also control the mechanism decks 12M and 14M. The control circuit 13CT of the audio/visual selector 13 controls selective switching of the selector circuit 13S and further has another function of controlling the entire audio/visual system in a concentrated manner. The control circuit 13CT further controls system features. However, system features which can be controlled by the audio/visual selector 13 as an audio/visual center equipment are set in advance. A command for executing a system feature which can be controlled by the audio/visual center equipment 3 is provided from the system remote control signal transmitter CM3 to the remote controller reception section R of the audio/visual selector 13. The audio/visual selector 13 converts the command received from the system controller transmitter CM3 into a bus command (a command to be transmitted to an audio/visual equipment by way of the bus system) obtained by adding an address of an equipment to the received command, and sends out the bus command to the control circuits of the audio/visual equipments by way of the buses B1 to B3. Each of the control circuits 11CT to 14CT of the audio/visual equipment 11 to 14 transfers the bus command to a next audio/visual equipment and determines whether or not the address included in the bus command is an address designating the audio/visual equipment itself, and if the address designates the audio/visual equipment itself, then the control circuit fetches and decodes the bus command and executes an operation corresponding to the command. Each of the control circuits 11CT to 14CT of the audio/visual equipments 11 to 14 notifies, when the status thereof changes, the audio/visual center equipment, which controls the system feature, of status information representative of the new status. As described above, the audio/visual selector 13 serving as an audio/visual center equipment transmits a command for execution of a system feature to the equipment by way of the bus system, and the equipment transmits, each time the status thereof changes, status information to the audio/visual center equipment, whereby the system feature proceeds. It is to be noted that, instead of causing each equipment to send out status information so as to report its status, the audio/visual center equipment may ask each equipment for its status. Again, a system feature which can be controlled by the audio/visual center equipment must necessarily be available with the audio/visual center equipment. In particular, a program for execution of the system feature must be prepared in the control circuit of the audio/visual center equipment. Not only starting of the system feature takes place by transmitting a command from the system remote control signal transmitter CM3 to the audio/visual center equipment, but also the system feature can be started, in the present embodiment, by performing a direct input key operation for a feature key provided on an operation panel of each equipment other than the audio/visual center equipment. Further, assuming presence of a system feature which cannot be controlled by the audio/visual center equipment, each of the equipment is constructed so as to control a system feature unique to it. In particular, in the system shown in FIG. 1, a play key Kp and a stop key Kst are provided on the multi-disk player 14 while a play key K1, a pause key K2, a recording key K3, a stop key K4 and some other keys (not shown) are provided on the video tape recorder 12. Further, in the system shown in Fig. 1, the video tape recorder 12 uniquely has a system feature of synchronous dubbing which allows dubbing in a timed relationship with a high degree of accuracy with a source (in the system shown in FIG. 1, the multi-disk player 14) input to the audio/visual selector 13, and a synchronous dubbing key KS for starting the system feature of synchronous dubbing is provided on the video tape recorder 12. The system feature of synchronous dubbing is not prepared for the audio/visual selector 13 which serves as the audio/visual center equipment. Meanwhile, the video tape recorder 12 includes a unique feature control section (not shown) in the control circuit 12CT so that the feature may be controlled by the feature control section. In other words, a program for synchronous dubbing is prepared in the microcomputer constituting the control circuit 12CT. In the following, an example of execution of the synchronous dubbing feature to record a source signal from the multi-disk player 14 in a timed relationship with a high degree of accuracy by means of the video tape recorder 12 will be described with reference to diagrammatic views of FIGS. 2 and 3. Entire Flow of Processing A recording start point on the video tape recorder 12 side is determined by processes A and B, and a reproduction start point of the multi-disk player 14 on the reproduction side is determined by processes C and D, and then a recording stand-by condition is entered by a process E. Preparations for synchronous dubbing are completed with this. Subsequently, timed synchronous dubbing is started by a process F and is performed until an end process. Description of the Processes Process A First, when the play key K1 of the video tape recorder 12 is depressed at step A1, a command (status signal) representative of this is sent to the audio/visual selector 13 which serves as an audio/visual center equipment. The audio/visual selector 13 forms, at step A2, a route of an audio/visual signal from the video tape recorder 12 to the television receiver 11 by way of the audio/visual selector 13. Meanwhile, the video tape recorder 12 controls, at step A3, the mechanism deck 12M thereof to enter into a reproduction mode and renders a reproduction signal system of the audio/visual signal processing circuit 12S into a processing condition. The process A is a system feature of so-called one-touch play wherein audio/visual signal connection is performed automatically in response to a reproduction instruction to the video tape recorder, and in the present system, the audio/visual center equipment can control the process A. While starting of the system feature of the process A can also be performed by way of the system remote control signal transmitter CM3, in the present system, it can be performed by operating the play key K1 of the video tape recorder 12 as described above. It is to be noted that, where a remote controller for exclusive use is provided for the video tape recorder 12, the system feature can be started also in response to a reproduction instruction from the remote controller for exclusive use with the video tape recorder 12. Further, it is also possible to control the feature not by the audio/visual center equipment but by the video tape recorder 12 itself. Process B At step B1, while a reproduction screen on the television receiver 11 from the video tape recorder 12 is visually observed, the pause key K2 of the video tape recorder 12 is depressed at a position at which recording is desired to be started. In response to this, the mechanism deck 12M of the video tape recorder 12 enters a pause condition (temporary stopping condition) at step B2, and a recording start point (recording-in point) for synchronous dubbing is determined. Process C The process C is a system feature of one-touch play of the multi-disk player 14 and similar to the process of one-touch play of the video tape recorder 12 in the process A. In particular, when the play key Kp of the multi-disk player 14 is depressed at step C1, a command (status signal) representative of this is sent to the audio/visual selector 13 which serves as an audio/visual center equipment. The audio/visual selector 13 forms a route for an audio/visual signal from the multi-disk player 14 to the television receiver 11 by way of the audio/visual selector 13 at step C2. Meanwhile, the multi-disk player 14 drives, at step C3, the mechanism deck 14M into a reproduction condition. While starting of the system feature of the process C can be performed also from the system remote control signal transmitter CM3, in the present system, it can be performed by operating the play key Kp of the multi-disk player 14 as described hereinabove. It is to be noted that, where there is a remote controller for exclusive use with the multi-disk player 14, the system feature can be started also in response to a reproduction instruction from the remote controller for exclusive use with the multi-disk player 14. Process D At step D1, while a reproduction screen on the television receiver 11 reproduced from the multi-disk player 14 is visually observed, the pause key K2 of the multi-disk player 14 is depressed at a position at which recording is desired to be started. The mechanism deck 14M of the multi-disk player 14 enters, at step D2, into a pause condition, and a reproduction start point (reproduction-in point) for synchronous dubbing is determined. Process E When the recording key K3 of the video tape recorder 12 is turned on at step E1, the audio/visual selector 13 serving as an audio/visual center equipment performs, at step E2, detection of a signal inputted to the television receiver 11. Then, if a signal inputted to the television receiver 11 is detected, then an audio/visual signal route is formed at step E3 so that the signal may be input to the video tape recorder 12. If no signal is input to the television receiver 11, then since a built-in television tuner is specified as the source from which an image is displayed on the television receiver 11, an audio/visual signal route for inputting a signal of the television tuner to the video tape recorder 12 is formed at step E4. Then at step E5, the mechanism deck 12M of the video tape recorder 12 is controlled and the recording system of the audio/visual signal processing circuit 12S is operated into a recording condition. It is to be noted that, since the recording key K3 is turned on in a condition wherein the video tape recorder 12 has been put into a pause condition, the video tape recorder 12 enters into a recording stand-by condition. Preparations for synchronous dubbing are completed with this. In this manner, the process E is a system feature process wherein the source which is being enjoyed at present and is the television receiver 11 is changed over only by turning on the recording key K3 of the video tape recorder R2 so that it can be recorded with the video tape recorder 12. While also this can be started from the system remote control signal transmitter CM3, in the present system, it can be started by depressing the recording key K3 or from the remote control signal transmitter for exclusive use. Process F The present process F is a process for executing the system feature of synchronous dubbing. In the present system, the feature is not available with the audio/visual selector 13 which serves as an audio/visual center equipment, and the unique feature control section of the control circuit 12CT of the video tape recorder 12 performs control of execution of the feature. Accordingly, upon execution of the feature, the video tape recorder 12 operates like an audio/visual center equipment. First, the synchronous dubbing key KS of the video recorder 12 is depressed at step F1. The synchronous dubbing key KS is a key switch of the non-locking type, and each time this is depressed, starting and temporary stopping of synchronous dubbing are repeated alternately. When the key KS is depressed, the video tape recorder 12 determines at step F2 whether or not synchronous dubbing is being executed. If synchronous dubbing is not being executed, the video tape recorder 12 inquires the audio/visual selector 13 serving as an audio/visual center equipment for an equipment which is being input to the television receiver 11 to detect a dubbing source. Subsequently, the video tape recorder 12 inquires the detected second equipment (in this instance, the multi-disk player 14), which serves as a dubbing source, for information of a synchronization time at step F4 to obtain information whether or not the second equipment is available for synchronous dubbing and what seconds are required for a synchronous time until the other equipment enters into a synchronous reproduction condition. Then, in accordance with the information, the video tape recorder 12 performs, at step F5, synchronous dubbing operation processing wherein a reproduction command to the second equipment and a recording command to the video tape recorder 12 itself are successively transmitted at suitable timings. Where the second equipment is not available for synchronous dubbing, the video tape recorder 12 executes its processing using a default value for a synchronization time of the second equipment. Or else, a warning may be provided while execution of synchronous dubbing is stopped. At step F6, during execution of synchronous dubbing, protection is performed so that, even if there is an operation input of the stop key Kst of the multidisk player 14 or a key operation input of the video tape recorder 12, such input is ignored. The protection may be entrusted to the audio/visual center equipment 3 upon application. When it is determined, as a result of determination at step F2 whether or not synchronous dubbing is being executed, that synchronous dubbing is being executed, the video tape recorder 12 controls the mechanism deck 12M so that it enters into a recording pause condition at step F7. Further, the video tape recorder 12 sends a command to the multi-disk player 14, and at step F8, the multi-disk player 14 enters into a reproduction pause condition. The multi-disk player 14 can enter from the pause condition into a reproduction condition, and a reproduction-in point from which it is desired to perform synchronous dubbing newly can be set. Thereafter, by operating the synchronous dubbing key KS, the process F described above is performed. Thereafter, each time the synchronous dubbing key KS is operated, execution and temporary stopping of a dubbing operation are repeated. Such synchronous dubbing comes to an end, for example, by operating the stop key K4 after the processing at steps F7 and F8. Having now fully described the invention, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims: A system feature starting method for an audio/visual system which includes a plurality of audio/visual devices (11-14) each including a control circuit (11CT-14CT) for controlling operation of that audio/visual device, the control circuits of said audio/visual devices being connected to each other by way of a bus system (B4-B6), said audio/visual system further including an audio/visual center device (13) for controlling said audio/visual system in a concentrated manner, at least one of said audio/visual devices (14) other than said center device, including manually operable inputting means (Kp) for a system feature by which the audio visual device operates in cooperation with any one of the other audio/visual devices, the method comprising starting the system feature when said manually operable inputting means is manually operated. A method according to claim 1, wherein said manually operable inputting means includes a key switch (Kp) provided on an operation panel of the one audio/visual equipment (14) or a corresponding key switch provided on remote control signal transmission means (CM3) provided for exclusive use for the one audio/visual equipment. A system feature controlling method, comprising a system feature starting method according to claim 1 or 2 and the further step of controlling the system feature by the one audio/visual device itself. A system feature controlling method for an audio/visual system according to claim 3, wherein the one audio/visual device (14) which controls the system feature communicates demands directly with the other audio/visual device(s) (12), which takes or take part in the system feature, by way of said bus system (B4, B5, B6).

Inventors: KATSUYAMA AKIRA, KOTABE NORIKO, KUSAGAYA YASUO, OSAKABE YOSHIO, SATO MAKOTO, SUGIYAMA KOUICHI, TANAKA SHIGEO, YAMAZAKI HIROSHI, KATSUYAMA, AKIRA, KOTABE, NORIKO, KUSAGAYA, YASUO, OSAKABE, YOSHIO, SATO, MAKOTO, SUGIYAMA, KOUICHI, TANAKA, SHIGEO, YAMAZAKI, HIROSHI
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1994
Main classification: H04B1
IPC codes: G11B27, H04L12, H04N5, H04B1